Adoption updates

Congratulations for the following ferrets who were adopted in the last few days:

Marley and Peebles



Clyde and Isis



Jackie O




Flea and Punkin Pie




Dookers, Hank, Butterball, Solomon

5 things every ferret owner should know

1. Health issues. Ferrets make great pets. Unfortunately, they are prone to many potentially deadly health issues. About 80% of all ferrets will develop adrenal disease or insulinoma. Since ferrets who are over three-years-old are considered geriatric, owners should expect to have at least one surgery during that ferret's lifetime. Read more about these two illnesses (and others) on miamiferret.org.
2. Play time. People often associate ferrets with rabbits, guinea pigs, and mice because of their small stature and furry bodies. That's about the only things ferrets have in common with these other animals. Ferrets are not cage animals. They need to play around the house as a cat or dog would. They need constant stimulation, enrichment and interaction. Ferret owners should have large cages for their ferrets as a safety, since ferrets cannot be supervised around the clock. Read more about what games ferrets like to play.
3. Blockages and hairball prevention. Laxatives made for ferrets should be given about twice a week. Ferrets need lax to help prevent hairballs. Unlike cats, ferrets cannot throw up a hairball. Some ferrets are very fond of eating things they shouldn't eat, such as rubber, cotton, cloth, etc. All of those things can cause a potentially deadly blockage. Lax cannot remove all blockages; sometimes surgery is the best solution. Read more blockages here and here.
   
4. Carnivores. Ferrets are obligate carnivores, which means they are strict meat-eaters. Anything with fruits, vegetables, or sugar should never be fed to ferrets. A diet free of sugars and low in carbohydrates may help prevent insulinoma. If you are unsure what to feed your ferret, check out this handy food chart.
5. Ferret-knowledgeable vets. One of the most important things you can do to your ferret is finding a ferret-knowledgeable vet. Please note that just because a vet says s/he treats ferrets, it does not mean that the vet is qualified. Make sure to ask a potential ferret vet these important questions. To find a ferret vet close to you, click here.
   

LOST FERRET - "TWIX" Needs your help

(Update on Search for Twix: On Wednesday eve, a group of us canvassed a very overwhelming neighborhood, with literally thousands of wonderful places for ferrets to hide and nest. We walked in the woods,which were very dense, talked to anyone we saw on the streets, and a group of kids, and stuck fliers in every single mailbox in surrounding neighborhoods. No sign of Twix yet but we haven't given up hope. I will give another update in a week's time, even if nothing new is known)


A ferret friend of The Ferret Inn named "Twix" has been reported lost from his home in Davidsonville, MD. He got out sometime Sunday night (May 31st) or Monday morning and the family is devastated. They live in a residential development but back up to some extensive wooded areas.
The family has searched the surrounding areas and has made many efforts to find poor Twix.
So far we have done the following
Contacted:
Anne Arundel Animal Control
Anne Arundel SPCA
Craigslist
MDSPCA
Petfinder Lost and Found
Posted on ferretvillage.org
Handed out fliers to neighbors mailboxes.
Visited some neighbors

We have also recommended that the family contact and post at all local pet stores and vets.